Ruby Tuesday, thanks for the kind words but if I am a coauthor on the book it may bomb!! Robin, Robin, Robin, youth has its passion and this is very good. Age has its experience and usually tempers the passion somewhat.(hopefully). Now how could I have disappointed you when I haven't weighed in on this thread with MY thoughts. One of the reasons I haven't weighed in because the topic was about old fashioned German Shepherds and many people were going to give replies who weren't even born when old fashioned GS were around. So to me they can only state read facts or hearsay as they don't have a point of reference.(Kinda like yesterday when a 16 year old kid in our club with two left feet was telling me why his showline DOBE isn't doing long bites like other dogs is because John and I won't move him along fast enough. Dog has horrible nerves. And John looks at me after he left(John has trained dogs for a living for 42 years, I only have 38), and said Don't you love it when a 16 year old is telling you how to train a dog!!!) I know some people get tired of me talking experience, so I've cut back instead of arguing with the sixteen year old.
But as to my statement, if you read Anne's statement, Everything she wrote in that post is accurate to my way of thinking. These are the same things I've experienced as a person who has bred and WORKED dogs for many many years. I honestly believe the conformation ring and the sport world has had a profound negative impact on the breed in the past twenty years. Anne has a profound love for the breed and is doing everything she can to help the breed by posting on this forum and maybe some people will recognize the value of her post and change some of their perspectives on the breed. I have learned a lot from Anne on this board in training and on the breed and in personal conversations. I KNOW she knows what she is talking about!! She just tells it like it is and that is what the breed needs but it has to be from somebody who has bred and worked dogs to be able to know what to breed for. Sch and conformation is no longer conducive to supporting true German Shepherd temperament, and I have said this for a long time on this list and I can't change to what I don't believe. Really read what she wrote and you will see good information...don't worry about the breed is past saving part, as I believe Anne is only trying to convey the dire situation the breed is in. Nobody loves the breed any more than her, you, me, Doc, Chris, RT, Samba, Lies, Fred, Lisa, etc. But some have a wider point of reference in action and experience and I choose to listen to them if it rings true...JMO..peace!
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